How to Keep Ants Away From Your Bird Houses and Feeders

A simple solution to keeping ants away from bird food, eggs, and hatchlings!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Petroleum jelly

1. If your birdhouse or feeder is on a metal pole, apply petroleum jelly to the pole about a foot from the bottom of the house or feeder. You will need to apply a thick layer completely around the pole, at least 2-3 inches wide.

2. If your birdhouse or feeder is on a wooden post, apply petroleum jelly to the post about a foot from the ground and about a foot from the bottom of the house or feeder. You will need to apply a thick layer completely around the post, at least 2-3 inches wide.

3. After applying, be sure you have completely filled any cracks or crevices, especially in wooden posts. If your post is attached to a building, fence, or anything else accessible to ants, be sure to apply a protective layer about a foot away from the house or feeder in each direction.

Tips & Warnings

• Reapply petroleum jelly after any heavy rains, or every week.
• The nesting birds will not appreciate your efforts, and will try to swoop down on your head. Protect yourself by tapping on the side of the birdhouse before beginning, to alert the nesting bird, and by applying jelly a foot below the house (so your eyes are not level with the entrance/exit hole.